Brussels, 10/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - There is increasing uncertainty surrounding the practical realisation of 30 priority trans-European transport network (TEN-T) projects selected by the EU in 2004. This message emerged from a meeting on 9 March between various European Commissioners, including Jacques Barrot (transport), Danuta Hubner (regional policy), Dalia Grybauskaite (budgets). Other participants at the meeting included the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Philippe Maystadt, and two of the six coordinators selected to facilitate the implementation of certain priority projects (see EUROPE 8914), namely Loyola de Palacio for the rail link between Lyons in France and Budapest in Hungary, priority project No. 6 and Etienne Davignon for the rail link between Lisbon in Portugal and Tours in France, priority project No. 3.
The aim of the meeting was to consider innovative funding mechanisms to alleviate the lack of resources for TEN-T following the budget cuts foreseen in the European Council's budget deal of December last year. The deal agreed TEN-T funding of around EUR 7 bn less than the amount suggested by the European Commission (EUR 20 bn). Europe understands that the main agreement of the 9 March meeting was that the available funding should not be sprinkled across all 30 priority projects, and if the final deal does not increase TEN-T funding, for a top priority list of the 30 priority projects to be drawn up, focussing on European rail interoperability on the TEN-T (the European Rail Traffic Management System, ERTMS) and the cross-border sections of priority projects. A similar message has been hinted in recent weeks elsewhere (see, for example, Jacques Barrot's interview in Bregenz, EUROPE 9144). Europe also understands that during the 9 March meeting, potential innovative funding mechanisms were discussed, like establishing an EU loan guarantee system (see EUROPE 9146), and encouraging Member States to use Cohesion Funds and Structural Funds for the TEN-T.
The EU budget talks are still in progress but unless some miracle occurs, there is unlikely to be any substantial changes. The final outcome will highlight the paradox that on the one hand, EU Member States continue to stress the importance of TEN-T for the development of the common market, while on the other hand, they have slashed funding for developing the projects they themselves selected in 2004.